Tuesday, October 14, 2008

VeganMoFo: Baked Goodness

I've been eyeing the "Date-Pecan Coffee Cake" from "Voluptuous Vegan" for a long time now... and when they started selling dates at our farmers market, I decided now was the time. It's a two layer cake with a date-pecan filling and a crumb topping. It was a tiny bit too dry to be perfect, but it was pretty darned great. I would definitely make it again, and maybe just add a little applesauce or something to moisten it. I guess maybe coffee cake is meant to be a bit dry, and the coffee is there for moisture? What do I know! This coffee cake was a nice combo of healthy and naughty... though it did call for a lot of maple syrup, which is practically as valuable as gold these days.

One of my top favorite treats of all time: "Double Chocolate Almond Explosion" cookies from "Vive Le Vegan." If, by any freaking chance, you have this book and you have not made these yet, please do not hesitate. They are so good. On this page in my cookbook, in big blue marker, I wrote "Totally Freaking Delicious." It's true every time!

I also made these recently for the first time. They're "Tickle Me Pink Vanilla Cookies" from "Eat Drink and Be Vegan." As you can see, mine didn't actually turn out pink. Maybe next time I'll double the beet powder? But, despite the lack of pink-ness, these were great cookies: a simple vanilla flavor with a perfect chewy-crispy balance. Also, it was fun making cookies with sprinkles.

I baked with dates this week too! I used to be turned off by their roach-like appearance (the roaches in Memphis are actually that size!...they don't call it the Dirty South for nothin')...but I love their chewy sweetness. Dates are my new best friend.